Where to see Michelangelo's David and its copies in Florence

One of the great attractions of your tourist trip to Florence is the possibility of seeing one of the great works of art of the Renacimiento, the imposing sculpture of the David de Miguel Angel Buenarroti.

I tell you that in your first walk through Florence You will surely see it in front of the façade of the Palazzo Vecchio, In Signaria Square.

But as you can imagine, this sculpture is not the original, but a copy...

Where is Michelangelo's sculpture

The original sculpture of David by Michelangelo you find it in the Accademia Gallery, a museum whose visit you must plan as essential during your trip to Florence, even if only to watch live said world-famous work of art.

Of course, when visiting, you should keep these tips in mind to avoid the usual queues that are formed to enter to see the David.

One way is to buy the tickets to visit the Accademia Gallery, so you will choose the date and time of your visit and you will have priority access, without waiting in lines.

You also have the option of signing up for a guided tour of the Accademia Gallery, which is done in one hour with the company of a guide in spanish specialist in art and history.

Curiosities history of Michelangelo's sculpture of David

La David sculpture was finished sculpting by Miguel Angel in 1504.

It was a commission from the Duomo Opera, secular institution established in 1293 to supervise the construction of the new Duomo, the Cathedral of Saint Mary of Fiore.

This institution currently has the objective of preserving its artistic heritage.

The sculpture of David, along with other sculptures that represented the Old Testament, it was planned to be placed in an external buttress of the apse of the cathedral.

From a large block of carrara marble, the David was finally made by Miguel Angel after the failed attempts of other sculptors to sculpt said block.

How tall is Michelangelo's David?

La David sculpture has a Height of 5,2 meters, and compared to its initial religious symbology, the David, ready to face Goliath, became a symbol of the Republic of Florence against the political powers that threatened it.

Faced with the refusal of Miguel Angel that the sculpture was placed in the Lanzi Loggia, the great portico of the Signoría Square, at the end of 1504 it was finally installed in front of the façade of the Palazzo Vecchio.

Due to the danger of further deterioration due to inclement weather, in 1873 the original sculpture of David moved to its current location in Accademia Gallery.

Where to see copies of Michelangelo's David in Florence

Later, in 1910 it settled in its previous location in the Signaria Square a marble copy of David at the same scale, which is what you can see currently.

But these two David are not alone in Florence.

In Piazzale Michelangelo, where the famous viewpoint with the best panoramic views of Ponte Vecchio and Florence, there's also another copy of David by Michelangelo.

Precisely this square was built in 1865 as a tribute to Miguel Angel, artist who gives him his name.